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Rights plea dismissed in Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has dismissed the fundamental rights violation petition filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) questioning the validity of the recent Government gazette declaring some parts of Muttur as High Security Zones (HSZs).

The army ousted the LTTE from Muttur in Trincomalee district in August/September last year following a threat perception to the Trincomalee naval base and Government installations. Some areas taken from the Tigers were notified as HSZs by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The CPA and its Executive Director Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu sought relief and effective redress in respect of the “infringement of the fundamental rights of a large section of Sri Lankan society who have been and are being further discriminated against and gravely prejudiced”.

The petition argued that the displaced people from the HSZs were being denied fundamental rights and freedom that Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnic, religious or geographical classification, are guaranteed under the Constitution.

It argued that a section of society on the basis of their ethnicity and place of origin are being deprived of their rights. The petition cited Defence Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Security Forces Commander (East) Parakrama Pannipitiya, Army Commander, Air Force Commander, Navy Commander, IGP, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Attorney-General as respondents. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices Nihal Jayasinghe and Andrew Somawansa.

Meanwhile, the Rajapaksa Government geared up for a major celebration to mark the ouster of the LTTE from the east, on Thursday. The function would be presided over by the President.

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